Let The Fur Fly: 10 Best Pet-Friendly Vacation Spots in The U.S.

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For pet owners, a vacation can be a complicated prospect. Before you get a chance to relax, you have to line up a kennel (which can get tricky around the holidays, when every other pet owner has the same idea) and then try to enjoy your trip with the nagging image in your head of your poor pet, all alone and confused in a cage somewhere. 

Since no one can unwind with that Sarah McLachlan song in their head, we now share some of the more popular destinations to accomodate the whole family, furry or otherwise.

Las Vegas

Bright lights and a sultry atmosphere make Las Vegas an endless playground for the adventure enthusiast.

However, the vibrant city is an animal-lover’s paradise where tourists can indulge in diverse activities from the Vegas Amazing Pet Expos and AKC Multi-Group Dog Show to dining in pet-friendly restaurants like Grape Street Café and Hougan’s Racing Sandwich Shop.

Las Vegas hotels including Trump International, Caesars Palace and Harrah’s also provide animal accommodations for an additional fee.

Lake Tahoe, CA

If you and your pouch love the great outdoors, you have come to the right place.

Dubbed as “Dog Friendly Tahoe," Lake Tahoe is filled with the perfect amenities to make your pet’s dream come true.

Whether summer or winter, pets can kayak, take boating excursion,s enjoy hiking and camping trips, or snowshoe as well as go on short cross country adventures right by their master’s side.

Watson Bridge State Park, GA

Amid nature, beauty and old charm sits one of the most scenic locations in the U.S. 

Watson Bridge State Park is nature lover’s oasis, where furry friends are welcome to frolic or walk along historic trails, reside in picturesque cottages and partake in the Pets RXcercise program, which creates healthy practices for pets as well as their guardians.

Lincoln City, Oregon

Lincoln City is one special treat for the avid dog lover. 

This pet-loving oasis is a doggy dog world (that's not a mistake, it's a Modern Family reference) where Fido can frolic on the sandy shores of Lincoln City Beach and families can shop until they drop in its shores with their well-behaved pooch in tow.

In addition, don’t let your pet the miss the opportunity of a lifetime to see the yearly Mutt Masters Dog Show or the fascinating Olympics dog show, which raise money to support dog-inspired efforts.

Visitors are also welcomed to stay in any of Lincoln City’s array of pet-friendly hotels including the Salishan Spa & Resort or the beachfront properties of the Ester Lee Motel and Looking Glass Inn, which provides its very own dog run with a fire hydrant purely for the enjoyment of their furry guests.

Myrtle Beach, SC

In Myrtle Beach, all dogs truly go to heaven with luxurious provisions of dog-friendly parks including North-end Dog Park, Barc Parc as well as pristine beaches and boardwalks, which make this destination the ultimate playground.

There are some rules about dogs on the beach, however. According to the City of Myrtle Beach, dogs are allowed on the beach only before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. rom May 1 through Labor Day. From the day after Labor Day to April 30 each year, dogs are allowed on the beach at any time of day.  Leashes must be seven feet or shorter, and it goes without saying; clean up after your dog.

Myrtle Beach also offers pet-friendly hotels such as Ocean Park Resort, Ocean Dunes Resort & Villas and Patricia Grand Resort Hotel adorned with exclusive domestic animal services.

Alexandria, VA

Alexandria is a hidden gem for the animal lover. Here you and your pet can spend your days cruising on the Potomac Riverboat on a canine-inspired cruise or strolling in the midst of natural beauty along picturesque trails of the Theodore Roosevelt Island Park.

For an even greater experience with your four-legged friend, a stay at Hotel Monaco will be a unforgettable experience.

After 5 p.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of April to October, furry guests and their owners as well as local regulars are cordially invited to partake in “Doggy Yappy Hour” in the courtyard – where dogs are showered with complimentary treats while their loved ones sip on a selection of beverages from the Jackson 20’s Bar Menu.

Lake Placid, NY

Imagine scintillating aquatic views, orange sunsets, and beautiful mountainsides with your best friend at hand. 

Whether a winter wonderland or a summer’s dream, Lake Placid offers cozy rentals and hotels in the heart of its famous natural beauty, designed to ease your mind and cater to the needs of your pets with aquatic thrills and hiking trails.

With plenty of open spaces, there is more than enough room to roam through timeless wilderness and mountainous terrain amid the tranquility of the scintillating lake.

Key West, FL

Pet owners migrate to Key West to enjoy idyllic weather, sandy beaches and cozy resorts that welcome their four-legged friends with open arms.

Here, dogs are also invited to relax or play unleashed in dog parks, watch dolphins via eco-charters, cruise along the canal on a Lazy Dog Kayak excursion, and get pampered at the Hog Breath Saloon.

Gatlinburg, TN

In the midst of old mountain charm sits Gatlinburg, a rustic town located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

This natural beauty lures visitors with animal-friendly cabins and hotels. At the Gatlinburg Sky Lift, owners and their four-legged companions are carried to the top of the mountain’s highest peaks to enjoy the breathtaking scenery nestled below the clouds. Also enjoy Barks and Recreation, a pet care facility, and the Gatlinburg trail where dogs can bask in the remote spaces of the town.

San Diego, CA

As one of the top animal-friendly locations in the U.S., San Diego is heaven on earth for pets and their owners where they are able to shop together and enjoy doggy day trips under the care of expert handlers and play in the sun along sandy beaches.

This charismatic city offers a wealth of dog-friendly restaurants including Baja Betty’s, Pier Café and O’Bistro, pet parades. and parks, in addition to luxurious accommodations fit for a king or queen and their furred friends.

Pet owners can also choose from a wealth of hotels that allows them to snuggle with their furry friends — Hotel Solamar, Ocean Beach Hotel, Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, and the Bristol pride themselves on their well-designed amenities suitable for families and their domesticated loved ones.